Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp was more than satisfied with his team’s performance against FC Arsenal. Meanwhile, the injury to Kostas Tsimikas is causing him concern
While they didn’t take the lead in the table, they didn’t let their opponents pull away in the table either. The 1-1 draw between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC lived up to its name as a top match for a long time. In the end, the draw seemed to be a conciliatory result. At least for LFC coach Jürgen Klopp, as he told Sky after the game. “I am satisfied. I respect the opponent too much to think we have to shoot them out of the stadium. “
Arsenal got off to the better start in the match and consequently took the lead after just a few minutes. But the 56-year-old was all the more delighted with the way his team dealt with it. At the same time, he was delighted that his criticism of the fans during the week had been heard. “Then it’s always about the reaction. The reaction was great, we were super intense. We were able to go at a high tempo – driven by an incredible atmosphere. We knew we couldn’t play like that to the end, we had to find the right mix. “
Until the break, when LFC found their rhythm, “we really caused them problems, then we played great between the lines,” said Klopp, who also admitted that the Reds didn’t create any big chances apart from Mohamed Salah’s equalizer.
Klopp: “They are simply strong”, but “so are we “
After the break, however, Liverpool “were right there and really had them on the hook. We have to create chances and actually have to score a goal. When you win a ball four or five times that high, you have to finish and somehow we’re not.” Which led to Arsenal getting back into the game better. “When the door was ajar again, they ran through at full throttle. They are simply strong. I think the good news is that we are too. Apart from that, it was a real statement tonight and I’m fine with that.” Meanwhile, he didn’t even mention the fact that Trent Alexander-Arnold, for example, missed a huge chance.
The only downer from the Reds’ point of view: Kostas Tsimikas had to be substituted after just over half an hour due to injury, and although the final diagnosis is still pending, it doesn’t look good. “He said – when he went that way – ‘broken’. […] We will miss him brutally.” With regular left-back Andrew Robertson also missing with a shoulder injury, Joe Gomez will have to fill the role – as he did after coming on as a substitute. But Klopp is not entirely happy about that.
Klopp’s unwelcome all-purpose weapon Joe Gomez
“We have so many games and we also need Joe as a central defender, we need Joe as a right-back – it’s getting a bit tighter now. If you want to go far in all competitions, then you basically have to have a squad available and we haven’t had that for a while now,” said Klopp, who then once again let it be known that he feels the workload is too high. “Hopefully it stays that way, because we can play again in three days’ time.” That’s when LFC host Burnley FC on Boxing Day (6.30pm).
